patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
| reply to jslik
Re: government only?
said by jslik  :No offense, but read the article first.... "The system will be subscription-based with several different price categories for Milledgeville consumers. Another advantage of Milledgeville’s contract with Clearwire is that consumers in the Milledgeville area will be able to access the wireless system in any of the 46 markets Clearwire services." Still doesn't answer my questions. Will there be any price difference between muni Clearwire WiMAX and commercial Clearwire WiMAX? Equipment will be compatible and roaming. So I assume no price difference.
Actually, I can't even see how this is even an accomplishment for Clearwire. This deal doesn't come with spectrum as far as I can tell, so Clearwire will be using their existing spectrum. Also there is some allusion to the government using the "deal" to get something for itself. The article doesn't say anything about the govt using Clearwire's network, just new laptops for squad cars and an unspecified wireless backhaul network. This looks like some lame marketing/PR/politicians giving speaches at a press conference at a podium and getting photo ops, between the local town and Clearwire to get the town's govt to qualify for some porkbarrel state funded grant and they need to have a "network partner" to qualify.
quote:
Public safety was one of the fundamental applications proposed in the city’s grant. Bentley said the primary use of the wireless service will be computer-aided dispatch for emergency response personnel. The Milledgeville Police Department will allot part of its technology budget to the purchase of laptop computers so officers will have more efficient and effective access to the Georgia Crime Information Center while on patrol.
Also some money will be going to Clearwire to build the network ($30,000), and Clearwire will have to provide low income discounts for the internet service.
Why doesn't Clearwire just build the network without the local govt's help? Clearwire already owns the spectrum, and is licensed by the FCC and the state PUC to be a cellular provider and lease/built towers like any other cellphone operator. What, this town has a no cellphone towers zoning code rule or something that they are willing to lift for Clearwire? |
